Thursday, March 19, 2015

THE VOY 2 DIGITAL PROJECTOR ARRIVED IN LATE JULY 2016. SHOWN CARRYING IT IN THE FRONT DOOR IS CASIE CASEL AT LEFT AND TOM MESSERLI AT RIGHT. IN BACK OF TOM, HELPING IS TAYLOR CASEL. IT IS THE 4TH AND FINAL DIGITAL PROJECTOR FOR THE DOWNTOWN AND DRIVE-IN THEATRES.

DON'T MONKEY AROUND...SEE A MOVIE TODAY !

JUNE 2016 PHOTO...TEATHER BALL LEFT AT END OF SWINGS, THE SWINGS, THE SANDBOX AT RIGHT END OF SWINGS, AND THE TRAIN....THE

VOLLEYBALL COURT AT REAR OF THEATRE....LOTS OF THINGS FOR

KIDS TO DO BEFORE IT GETS DARK AND THE MOVIE STARTS.

KIDS LOVE THE TRAIN. THESE 3 KIDS FROM BETTENDORF HAD A BALL.

CORA, TRENTON AND LANDON...2016

THIS COUPLE IS FROM WYOMING, IOWA. CODY GOBLE WAS BORN ANDRAISED THERE. BRITTANY HIGUERA(NOT SURE OF HER HOMETOWN) AND CODY HAD THEIR FIRST DATE AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. THEY SAW THE DOUBLE FEATURE,"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN" AND"CARS". CODY SAID IT WAS A BUSYNIGHT AND THEY WERE PARKED ATTHE BACK OF THE THEATRE GROUNDS. NOW, THEY JUST BECAME ENGAGED AND WANTED THEIR ENGAEMENT PHOTO TAKEN AT THE DRIVE-IN. THEY WILL BE MARRIED JULY 9TH AT THE BELLEVUESTATE PARK. CODY WORKS FOR STATE FARM INSURANCE IN MONTICELLO. HE IS RELATED TOELAINE WATTERS OF MAQUOKETA.WE HAVE HAD 3 OR 4 OTHER PROPOSALS OR ENGAMENTS IN THE PAST AT THE DRIVE-IN, BUT STILL NOONE HAS BEEN MARRIED THERE.BEST WISHES TO CODY AND BRITTANY. THEY PLAN TO COME TO A MOVIE OR TWO THIS SUMMER AT THE 61.

PHOTO ABOVE IN JUNE 2017...VISITORS FROMBOULDER, COLORADO, MIKE MOORE AND FAMILY.MINIONSHAS BEEN BIG AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AT BOTH THE VOY THEATRE DOWNTOWN AND AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE.

THE TRASH IN THE MORNING WAS A GOOD INDICATION OF HOW GOOD THE MOVIE IS.....

BELOW, MEET OUR THEATRE EMPLOYEES.

THE VOY THEATRE AND 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE REGULAR WEB SITE WITH INFORMATION OF WHAT IS SHOWING ANDWHAT IS COMING UP AT THE DOWNTOWN THEATRE AND THE DRIVE-IN, AS POSTED BY MANAGER JACK JONES. ON CELL PHONE CALL 1-563-652-3535FOR JACK'S VOICE ON 24 HOUR RECORDING.THIS NEW SITE, I WILL USE ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR CANDID COMMENTS AND PHOTOS ABOUT BOTH THEATRES. DENNIS VOY, VOY AND 61 OWNER.

ABOVE, THE DIGITAL PROJECTOR IN THE VOY 1 THEATRE.

ABOVE THE SMALLER DIGITAL PROJECTOR IN THE SMALL VOY 3 THEATRE (IN THE BACK).... AND THE 11 SPEAKER SOUND SYSTEM FRONT LEFT. THE VOY 2 THEATRE HAS NOT BEEN CONVERTED TO DIGITAL YET AND STILL SHOWS 35MM MOVIE FILM WHEN AVAILABLE. WE HOPE TO CONVERT THE VOY 2 LATER THIS YEAR.

THE VOY 2 THEATRE WILL AGAIN BE CLOSED THIS WEEK AS WE WERE NOT
ABLE TO BOOK A 35MM MOVIE FOR IT. OUR PLAN IS TO CONVERT THE
VOY 2 AUDITORIUM TO DIGITAL ALSO, LATER THIS YEAR.

WE LOVE THE DIGITAL PICTURE AND SURROUND SOUND...AND OUR PATRONS LOVE IT TO.

THE VOY THEATRE THIS WEEK STARTED THE 43RD YEAR IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA. IT REPLACED THE PASTIME THEATRE IN 1973.

THE ABOVE PHOTO TAKEN ON FATHERS DAY, JUNE 19, 2016, OF CASIE
CASAL AND SON MATT. THE FAMILY WAS IN BURLINGTON FOR THE
DAY AND BOUGHT THIS 36-INCH (EQUAL TO 4 LARGE) PIZZA. CASIE
DOES NUMEROUS THINGS FOR ME AT THE DRIVE-IN AND ALSO IS THE
TRAIN ENGINEER....KEEPS IT RUNNING AND DRIVES IT MOST NIGHTS.
HE HAS 2 DAUGHTERS..ONE WORKS CONCESSION STAND (SEE
STORY AND PHOTO ELSEWHERE HERE) AND WIFE BILLIE CLEANS AND
PICKS-UP AT THE DRIVE-IN DAILY.

SOMEBODY DROPPED OF AN OLD PASTIME THEATRE NEWSPAPER AD.
THE PASTIME CLOSED FOR GOOD JANUARY 31, 1973. I OWNED IT
THE LAST 3 MONTHS (BOUGHT IT FOR EQUIPMENT) FROM ED KIRCHOFF.

THIS YEAR.....
WE HAD A PRIVATE
BIRTHDAY PARTY SHOWING OF "CINDERELLA" FOUR 2ND GRADERS
FROM SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN MAQUOKETA ALL HAD A BIRTHDAY WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER AND ONE OF THE MOTHERS
CONTACTED KMAQ ABOUT THE PARTY FOR THE 8TH BIRTHDAYS OF EACH. THERE WERE ABOUT 30 THAT ATTENDED.

IT WAS A NO GIFTS PLEASE PARTY BUT THE GUESTS INSTEAD WERE ASKED
TO BRING MONEY TO GIVE TO A FAVORITE CHARITY OF THE GIRLS.
MAYBE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE....YOU WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A
PRIVATE BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE VOY THEATRE. CALL JACK TO MAKE
ARRANGEMENTS.....1-563-652-2877.

ABOVE, JACK JONES, MANAGER OF THE VOY THEATRES/61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE. JACK GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE IN 1974 AND STARTED WORK AS MANAGER LATE IN 1974, WHILE THERE WAS STILL JUST THE ONE AUDITORIUM. THE VOY 2 OPENED EARLY IN 1975. JACK HAS LIVED ALL HIS LIFE IN MAQUOKETA. JACK HAS A SISTER, BARB, WHO LATE IN HER LIFE IS ABOUT TO BECOME A LUTHERAN MINISTER. JACK IS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH AND HE, LIKE BARB, HAS PLAYED THE ORGAN AT THE CHURCH SINCE HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. BARB HAS 3 DAUGHTERS, AND JACK IS PROUD OF HIS 3 NIECES. MANY YEARS AGO,JACK STARRED IN A LOT OF "PEACE PIPE PLAYERS" LOCAL PRODUCTIONS. HE REALLY ENJOYS "LIVE" THEATRE AND HAS SEEN MOST OF THE GREAT LONDON PRODUCTIONS SINCE VISITING LONDON ANNUALLY. LONDON ISHIS FAVORITE VACATION PLACE. AND OF COURSE, JACK LOVES MOVIES.AND HE REMEMBERS MOST OF THEM. QUIZ HIM ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE, AND CHANCES ARE, HE WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT. JACK IS IN HIS 42ND YEAR AND COMING UP, 42ND YEAR AT THE DRIVE-IN TOO.JOB WELL DONE JACK ....BUT HUNDREDS OF MOVIES AND THOUSANDS OF TICKETS STILL TO BE SOLD.THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW (MOVIE) BUSINESS!AND THESE DAYS, THERE'S NO 35MM FILM ANYMORE BUT FUN, SHARP AND EXCITING DIGITAL MOVIES! JACK JONES (ME TOO) WILL EMPHASIZE.....THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO ENJOY A MOVIE THAN ON THE BIG SCREEN AT YOUR THEATRE!

AN VIEW OF MY UPSTAIRS OFFICE

AT THE VOY 3 THEATRE

ABOVE, SHELLEY HOYE, THE CONCESSION PERSON THAT HAS BEEN WITH THE THEATRES THE LONGEST. SHE STARTED OUT WORKING PART TIME ALMOST DAILY AT THE "CINEMA MOVIE RENTALS" STORE THAT I OWNED NEXT TO THE THEATRE WHERE THERE IS A BEAUTY SHOP NOW (4-7-'15). WHEN THAT WAS CLOSED, SHE CAME OVER TO THE THE VOY 3 CONCESSION STAND AND IN THE SUMMER SEASON, ALSO WORKS OUT AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE. HER DAYTIME JOB IS IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AT THE JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN MAQUOKETA, ANOTHER JOB SHE HAS HAD FOR A LONG TIME. WHEN SHE'S NOT WORKING, SHE'S BUSY AT HER HOMEON DEARBORN STREET. SHELLEY LOVES TO READ AND ALWAYS HAS A BOOK NEARBY. AND THE POPCORN (SHE JUST POPPED) IS THE BEST INTHE WORLD. THEATRE POPCORN CAN'T BE BEAT. BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER, TOO MUCH BUTTER CAN CUT DOWN ON THE FLAVOR. DID YOU EVER SEE A MORE COLORFUL CONCESSION STAND?

ABOVE, THERESA CELENTANO, OF MAQUOKETA.....A MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. SHE WORKS FOR ME AT KMAQ, THE VOY THEATRE AND AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE. SHE MANAGES THE THEATRES ON JACK'S (J. JONES-MANAGER) NIGHT OFF. IN ADDITIONN TO SELLING TICKETS LIKE ABOVE, SHE KNOWS HOW TO RUN THE DIGITAL PROJECTORS. AT KMAQ, SHE IS THE RECEPTIONIST AND BOOKKEEPER AND IS ON THE AIR A LITTLE DAILY. BEEN AT KMAQ OVER A DOZEN YEARS AND AT KMAQ, SHE CAN ALSO SELL YOU VOY/61 GIFT CARDS, PERFECT FOR BIRTHDAY GIVING. AT THE THEATRE YOU WILL FIND HER 2 OR 3 DAYS A WEEK AND AT THE DRIVE-IN, MORE THAN THAT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. AND THERE, SHE SOMETIMES (AFTER A DAY AT KMAQ) WORKS STARTING AT 6 P.M. AND GOES BEYOND MIDNIGHT. NOT BAD FOR HER AGE. WE WON'T MENTION AGES ON THESE SPOTLIGHTS. THERESA LIVES NEAR THE THEATRE WHICH IS HANDY AND SHE HAS GRANDCHILDREN OUT WEST AND OUT EAST. SHE LIKES THE MOVIE BUSINESS, BUT WATCHES FEW MOVIES EACH YEAR. SHE'S JUST TOO BUSY!!

THE FUN BEGINS RIGHT AFTER YOU PASS OUR "LIGHTS OUT" SIGN.

GIVE A THEATRE GIFT CARD...

MAKES AN EXCELLENT BIRTHDAY GIFT...

AVAILABLE AT VOY 3 THEATRE BOXOFFICE...

AND AT KMAQ...

BUY A $50 CARD AND GET A $10 CARD FREE...

USE SAME CARD AT THE VOY 3 THEATRE

OR THE 61 DRIVE-IN....

FOR ADMISSION TO THE SHOW

OR AT CONCESSIONS STAND.

MARCY KLOFT, ABOVE....WORKED FOR ME BACK IN 1981 NOT LONG AFTER DEAN TILTON AND I BOUGHT KFC IN MAQUOKETA. MARCY (AND HUSBAND DUANE) RAISED TWO GIRLS AND SHE NOW IS BACK WORKING FOR ME AGAIN, THIS TIME AT THE VOY THEATRE AND DRIVE-IN WHEN NEEDED THERE. SHE WAS GOOD AT SELLING CHICKEN AND SHE IS ALSO NOW GOOD AT SELLING POPCORN AND POP. AND ALWAYS WITH A SMILE. HER GIRLS ARE GROWN, ONE MARRIED, AND MARCY AND DUANE HAVE NO GRANDCHILDREN, YET. SHE'S OLDER THAN SHE LOOKS AND WHEN SHE'S NOT SERVING A CUSTOMER ...SHE TALKS AND TALKS.BY THE WAY, WE SOLD KFC BACK IN THE YEAR 2,000. IT WAS LOCATEDJUST NORTH OF PIZZA HUT. AND THE NEW OWNER, CLOSED IT IN 2002.

ABOVE, A 1937 AD FOR THE PASTIME THEATRE IN MAQUOKETA. FOR MOSTYEARS, IT WAS LOCATED WHERE "SMILES ON MAIN" DENTAL OFFICE ISNOW. IT HAD SEATING FOR OVER 600. AND EACH WEEK THEN, RAN 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT MOVIES A WEEK. BANK NIGHT WAS HUGE BUT BECAME ILLEGALBECAUSE YOU HAD TO BE PRESENT TO WIN. I OWNED PASTIME FROM NOVEMBER 1,1972 UNTIL JANUARY 31, 1973 WHEN IT WAS TORN DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR A NEW "SCHULTZ BROTHER'S VARIETY STORE". THAT STORE LATER BECAME JIM BOLMAN'S "TRUE VALUE HARDWARE STORE". THEN THE DENTAL LOCATION. MAQUOKETA HAD NO THEATRE FROMFEBRUARY 1, 1973 UNTIL THE VOY THEATRE OPENED IN MARCH, SIX WEEKS LATER.

ABOVE, SHARON GOETTLER, LONGTIME (OVER 10 YEARS) CONCESSION EMPLOYEE AT THE VOY 3 THEATRE AND THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE. HER DAYTIME JOB IS WORKING FOR THE STATE OF IOWA IN THE FARM SERVICE AGENCY OFFICE ON EAST PLATT STREET. AND THERE IS ALWAYS MORE WORK TO BE DONE AT HER HOME IN MAQUOKETA. SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED ALSO WITH LITTLE THEATRE WORK WITH THE PEACE PIPE PLAYERS. LIKES COOKING AND BAKING TOO. AND MOVIES!

AN OLD AD IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE 5 MILES SOUTH OF MAQUOKETA. OPEN SINCE 1950.THE 61 DRIVE-IN TRAIN FIXED ANDGIVE FREE RIDES TO THE KIDS. THAT'S CASIE CASEL AT THE CONTROLS, HIS SON MATT, AND STANDING, DENNIS VOY, OWNER.

THIS SIGN IS POSTED AT THE DRIVE-IN----

THE TRAIN IS ALWAYS A HIT WITH THE KIDS AT THE 61! FREE KIDS RIDES OF COURSE! THE CAN COME BACK LATER IN NIGHT FOR A 2ND RIDE OR 3RD. ADULTS ON TRAIN ONLY WITH VERY SMALL CHILD.

THE VOLLEYBALL NET IS UP...AND HOPEFULLYTHERE WILL ALWAYS BE A VOLLEYBALL TO USEIN BOX BY THE NET. NO CHARGE. BUT PLEASE PUT THE BALL BACK IN THE BOX FOR THE NEXTPLAYERS.

COMING..FOR "HORSE" PLAYERS...A NEW BASKETBALL COURT IN 2016.

THANKS FOR CHECKING THIS NEW BLOG FOR THE THEATRES. COME BACK OFTEN.AND TELL OTHERS ABOUT IT.REMEMBER ALSO...24 HOURS A DAY,YOU CAN CALL 563-652-3535 FOR A RECORDING TELLING WHAT MOVIES ARE SHOWING AT THE DOWNTOWNAND DRIVE-IN THEATRES. JACKDOES A GREAT JOB, CLEARLYTELLING THE MOVIES, SHOW TIMESAND SOMETIMES ADDITIONALINFORMATION. GIVE A CALL NOWTO SEE WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

THE 61 OPENED IN 1950

THE PASTIME THEATRE IN MAQUOKETA ALSO OWNED THETHEATRES IN PRESTON AND OXFORD JUNCTION. I DO NOT KNOW THE YEARS THOSE TWO CLOSEDORNAMES OF OWNERS. THIS SAYS 1925.

THE PASTIME THEATRE IN THE 50'S ACROSS FROM GREEN MILL CAFE.

DON AND BECKY KUTSCH. THEY LIVE JUST EAST OF MAQUOKETA AND HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THE DRIVE-IN PART-TIME FOR 3 OR 4 SEASONS. THEY WORK TOGETHER IN CONCESSION STAND BUT DON ALSOSELLS TICKETS ONE OR TWO EVENINGS A WEEK. DON WORKS FOR WEB PRINTING IN MAQUOKETA AND BECKY IS THE SECOND COUNTY DEPUTY TO THE TREASURER INTHE COURT HOUSE AND ALSO FILLS IN AT THEDRIVER'S LICENSE DEPARTMENT THERE. THEYALSO HAVE LOTS OF ANIMALS ON THEIR LITTLEFARM, INCLUDING GOATS, SHEEP, AND MORE.THEY HAVE TWO SONS, BOTH SINGLE. ADAM IS25 AND IS A FORD TECHNICIAN AT A DEALERSHIPIN HAMPTON, VIRGINIA. LUKE IS 23 AND WORKSFOR AN ACE HARDWARE STORE IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ALSO IS A DRUMMER FOR A BAND UP THERETHAT PLAYS TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK. LOTS OF PEOPLE KNOW BECKY'S PARENTS, BOB AND JOAN HEAD.

ALFRED AND WILMA WITTHAVE WORKED AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN FOR MANY YEARS. THEY LIVE ON THEIR FARM SOUTH OF THE DRIVE-IN OFF HIGHWAY 61. ALFRED MOWS THE BIG LAWN AT THE DRIVE-IN AND IS THE 61 DRIVE-IN KIDDIE TRAIN ENGINEER. PICTURE ABOVE IS HIM AT THE STEERING WHEEL. WILMA IS THE CONDUCTOR, GETTING KIDS IN AND OUT OF THE TRAIN AND KEEPING ORDER. ON BUSY NIGHTS, THAT ISQUITE A JOB AND SHE DOES IT WELL. BOTH ENJOY THEIR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS AND LIKE TO ATTEND BALL GAMES THE GRANDKIDS ARE IN.WILMA LIKES TO COOK AND CAN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. ALFRED ENJOYS THE ANNUAL CLINTON COUNTY FAIR.

TAYLOR CASEL IS OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEE AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN, WORKING IN THE CONCESSION STAND, MAINLY AT THE COMPUTER CASH REGISTER. SHE CAN ALSO FILL IN DOWNTOWN WHEN NEEDED AT THE VOY 3 THEATRRE. SHE WILL BE 17 THIS FALL AND A JUNIOR AT MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL. HER PARENTS ARE CASIE AND BILLIE CASEL OF MAQUOKETA, WHO BOTH ALSO WORK PART TIME FOR VOYTHEATRES. (PHOTOS OF THEM COMING SOON) SHE HAS A YOUNGER SISTER ABBY AND BROTHER MATT.

ABOVE, MEET "DUNES" SCHROEDER...IN HIS 4TH YEAR SELLING TICKETS AT OUR BOXOFFICE LITTLEBUILDING. HE LOVES TALKING TO OUR PATRONS.HE LOVES LIFE. ALWAYS BUSY DOING THINGS OR SUPPORTING EVENTS. GOOD ATHLETE. VERYGOOD BOWLER. GOOD NEW KNEE. GREATFLORIST. THE 5 POTS OF FLOWERS ALONG THESIDE OF OUR CONCESSION BUILDING ARE HISCREATIONS. HE WORKS FULLTIME AT RONANN'S FLORAL SHOW, HIGWAY 64 WEST, MAQUOKETA.

THE ABUNDANT JUNE RAIN WAS GOOD FOR OURFLOWERS.

ASHLEY STARR (ABOVE) IS OUR GOOD AND FAST POPCORN POPPER. HER FIRST YEAR AT THE DRIVE-IN. SHE ALSO WORKS FOR DRIVE-IN OWNER DENNIS VOY AT HIS MAQUOKETA RADIOSTATIONS KMAQ AM-FM. SHE HAS THE AFTERNOON DJ SHIFT FROM 2 UNTIL 5 AT 95.1.HAS A TEEN-AGE SON, WILLIAM, AND A NEWBORN BABY GIRL, LAYAH. BIG DAY COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER FOR ASHLEY. ASK HER ABOUT IT.

DON AND BECKY ARE ON TEMPORARY "LEAVE" FROM WORKING AT THE DRIVE-IN AS THEIR SON WAS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. HE'S GETTING BETTER DAILY AND WEHOPE DON AND BECKY WILL BE BACK WITH USBEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER.

ANOTHER LOOK BACK ....

THIS IS ON THE WEST WALL OF THE VOY 2 LOBBY, AND SHOWS THE
OPENING MOVIE AND DATE OF ALL 3 AUDITORIUMS. VOY 1, MARCH 21,
1973..."PETE 'n' TILLIE"..... VOY 2, FEB 27,1975...JAMES BOND MOVIE...."MAN WITH A GOLDEN GUN" AND VOY 3, JULY 26,1981...."TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT".
VOY 1 AND 2 CONTRACTOR, G.L. STOCKHAM AND SON(BOB), MAQUOKETA AND VOY 3, LARRY ARNSDORF, SR., MAQUOKETA, WAS THE CONTRACTOR, AND HINKE (NORM) PLUMBING, MAQUOKETA, DID THE PLUMBING WITH ELECTRICAL WORK IN THE VOY 1 AND 2 BY STICKLEY ELECTRIC. VOY 3 ELECTRICAL BY AL FIER ELECTRIC, MAQUOKETA. SCHROEDER (ERNIE) HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING DID THE VOY 1,2 AND 3 INITIAL HEATING/AIR CONSTRUCTION.

THIS WALL MULTIPLE FRAME CASE FOR MOVIE ADVERTISING AIDS IS NOW LOCATED IN THE UPSTAIRS PRIVATE SEATING AREA OF THE VOY 2 THEATRE. IT IS IN AN OLD FRAME CASE THAT WAS IN THE LOBBY OF THE CASTLE THEATRE IN MANCHESTER, IOWA FOR MANY YEARS. DENNIS
VOY OWNED THE CASTLE THEATRE FROM THE EARLY 80'S UNTIL HE SOLD IT IN 1992. AT THE START, FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS, HIS PARTNER WAS GERALD PETERSON OF WAVERLY, IOWA. THEY ALSO OWNED THE MALEK THEATRE IN INDEPENDENCE THOSE YEARS, TWINNING IT AND AROUND 1990, VOY BOUGHT OUT PETERSON'S INTEREST IN BOTH THEATRES.
PETERSON HAD 7 OR SO OTHER THEATRES. DENNS VOY ALSO
OWNED THE MONTE THEATRE IN THE MID-70'S IN MONTICELLO AND
SOLD IT TO PETERSON WHO CLOSED IT NOT LONG AFTER. IT NEVER RE-OPENED.

THE ABOVE FANCIER FRAMES-IN-CASE WAS ALSO IN THE LOBBY OF THE
CASTLE THEATRE. IT IS NOW IN OWNER DENNIS VOY'S PRIVATE OFFICE
AT THE VOY THEATRE IN MAQUOKETA. GONE WITH THE WIND ANDDOCTOR ZHIVAGO WERE BOTH GREAT MOVIES AND NOW CONSIDERED
"CLASSICS" THE MIDDLE MIRROR SHOWS THE OFFICE AND DESK.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN! TELL OTHERS ABOUT HIS "BLOG"!

JIM GRAY WAS THE PASTIME THEATRE MANAGER IN MAQUOKETA FROM THE MID-50'S FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THEN WENT TO BOOK MOVIES FOR A
THEATRE CIRCUIT IN DES MOINES. I GOT TO KNOW JIM WHEN I FIRST
CAME TO MAQUOKETA IN 1958. HIS WIFE HAD A BEAUTY SHOP UPSTAIRS AT THE THEATRE. HE HAD ONE OR TWO KIDS AND WAS A NICE GUY, WITH DARK
BLACK HAIR AND LOVED MOVIES. PASTIME WITH 600 SEATS WAS WHERE "SMILES ON MAIN" IS LOCATED NOW. I WOULD SAY AROUND 2000. THE MOVIE IN BACKGROUND THAT WAS PLAYING AT PASTIME WHEN PHOTO WAS TAKEN IS BELOW..

THE VOY 2 AUDITORIUM THAT RE-OPENED SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 AFTER THE
DIGITAL PROJECTOR WAS INSTALLED. THE RIGHT AISLE WAS
ADDED WHILE CLOSED, AND BACK AISLE ALSO, MAKING IT EASIER TO GET
OUT OF ROWS TO VISIT CONCESSION STAND. THE SEATING WAS 204 WHEN OPENED IN 1975 AND NOW IS DOWN TO 150.

THE VOY 2 DIGITAL PROJECTOR THE WAY IT LOOKED, READY TO GO, ON
SEPT. 23RD, 2016. PREPARING THE ROOM AND WITH INSTALLATION OF
EQUIPMENT, THE VOY 2 DIGITAL CONVERSION RAN RIGHT AT $60,000.

THE ABOVE CLASSIFIED AD WAS POSTED HERE IN APRIL OF 2017 WHEN
TOM TIMMERMAN OF MAQUOKETA (OWNER OF ROTMAN MOTORS) GAVE
ME, DENNIS, THE AD HE FOUND IN AN OLD 1969 DUBUQUE TELEGRAPH HERALD.
BUD McKINSEY BOUGHT THE DRIVE-IN AROUND 1960 (IT OPENED IN
SUMMER OF 1950) FROM ONE OF THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, WALT ALLEN.
RUMOR HAD IT THAT HIS DAD BOUGHT IT FOR HIM. HE AND HIS WIFE
RAN IT UNTIL THEY DIVORCED AND HE DECIDED TO SELL IT. THAT WAS IN LATE WINTER OF 1969 WHEN THIS AD RAN. I THINK HE GOT
A BUYER IN 1969, A MAN FROM THE QUAD CITIES. THAT PERSON RAN
IT IN 1969 AND 1970 I BELIEVE. HE DID STRANGE THINGS THERE, LIKE
PUTTING A WINDOW IN CONCESSION STAND AND HAVING CARS DRIVE UP
TO THAT WINDOW TO BUY ADMISSION TICKETS, NOT USING THE TICKET
BUILDING OUT BY HIGHWAY. A DECISION TO SAVE MONEY, BY LETTING
CONCESSION PEOPLE ALSO SELL TICKETS. HE ALSO PUT A TRAILER HOME
NEAR THE CONCESSION STAND TO LIVE IN DURING THE SEASON. AND
HE DID NOT KEEP THE DRIVE-IN UP LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE, I WAS TOLD.
SO, I ASSUME HE HAS BOUGHT IT ON CONTRACT, AND BUD TOOK IT BACK
AFTER THE 1970 SEASON. BUD THEN OPERATED IT AGAIN IN 1971 SEASON,
WITH TOM GOODALL OF MAQUOKETA IN CHARGE. IN 1972, HE SOLD IT
TO ME IN FEBRUARY AND MY FIRST SEASON WAS THE 1972 SEASON.
HISTORY, BUT NOT SURE 100% ACCURATE, OF THE DRIVE-IN EARLY YEARS.

AN EARLY 1950' DRIVE IN AT SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. 750 CARS.

NEW DRIVE-INS ARE STILL BEING BUILDT....

THE BELLEVUE HERALD 2017 ARTICLE BELOW TELLS WHAT IT WAS LIKE AT
A THEATRE IN SMALL-TOWN IOWA IN THE 40'S AND 50'S.

THE "HUCK FINN" MOVIE ABOVE CAME OUT INEARLY 1939 AND STARRED MICKEY ROONEY.I MET MICKEY AT A MOVIE CONVENTION IN EARLY 2000. THE 2ND HUCK FINN WAS RELEASEDIN 1955 AND THERE HAVE BEEN 1 OR 2 MORE VERSIONS SINCE THEN.A REMINDER...EVERY STORY OR PHOTO ON THIS WEB SITE CAN BE ENLARGED FOR EASIER VIEWING OR READING....JUST CLICK ON THEARTICLE UNTIL IT BECOMES BIGGER FOR READING.